Feeler mechanism for looms



E. S. STIMPSON.

FEELER MECHANISM FOR LOOMS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 31. 1919.

1,380,938,, PatentedJune 7, 1921..

entree sates EDWARD S. STIMPSON, OF HOPEDALE, MASSACHUSETTS, lASSIGNGR' T0 earn r are.

CORPORATION, OF HOPEIDALE, EASSACHUSET'IS, A CORIORATIUN 0F MAINE.

FEELER MECHANISM FOR LOOMS.

Application filed. may 31,

.for Looms, of which the following is a specification.

In United States Letters Patent, No. 1,309,226, July 8, 1919, is set forth a side slipping feeler which is inclined from front to rear, and the guides therefor are so located that the feeler is normally maintained in this inclined position. In accordance with the present invention the guides for the feeler are so disposed that the feeler arm normally is not inclined, but occupies a fore and aft position parallel with the path of the swing of the lay.

The rean toothedportion of the feeler is inclined with respect to the forward portion of the feeler arm so that the impact of the weft tends to displace the feeler laterally. When the weft is present in sufiicient quantity its frictional resistance prevents the side slip of the feeler; but when the bobbin is bared where it contacts with the feeler tip, the feeler slips sidewise and sets into action the weft replenishing mechanism.

The improved feeler is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1, is a plan view illustrating the normal position of the feeler. Fig. 2 is a similar view illustrating the feeler in the position which it occupies after slipping laterally upon the bared bobbin. Fig. 3 is a vertical cross section in the plane indicated by the line 33 in Fig. 1.

The feeler comprises an arm A having an 'angularly disposed feeler tip B with teeth to engage the weft C in the shuttle D when in the shuttle box at the detecting side of the lay E.

The feeler arm A is guided and mounted in a way which is similar to that disclosed in the aforesaid patent, excepting that the front and rear guides are so located that the feeler arm is normally maintained in the position shown in Fig. 1, the feeler arm A then being in line with the fore and aft swing of the lay. At its front end the feeler arm slides in an aperture in a swiveled guide F, turning in a. bracket G mounted on extension H of the breast beam. Near Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June a, 19211. 1919. Serial No. access. 7

its rear end but forward of the angularly disposed tip B, the feeler arm extends through a laterally elongated stationary guide I. The feeler arm has a slide J restmg onguideways K of the bracket G. A spring L surrounds the feeler arm between the slide J and the swiveled front guide F, and normally retains the feeler in its rearward position bearing against the wall M of the rear guide I. This wall M is directly behind the swiveled guide so that the feeler arm A is normally held in a position parallel with the fore and aft swing of the la I Turing the normal running of the loom,

when an ample quantity of weft is in the shuttle, the feeler arm A moves forward and back in a straight of the lay, there belng then no turning of the swiveled guide F, since the friction between the weft and the teeth of the feeler tip neutralizes the tendency of the impact of the forwardly moving weft to swing the feeler arm.

When, however, the weft is nearly exhausted, as indicated in Fig. 2, the smooth surface of the bobbin N encounters the feeler tip, and the feeler then slips laterally as indicated in Fig. 2. This lateral movement .-is utilized to initiate the actuation of the weft replenishing mechanism just, as in the aforesaid patent. The lateral elongation of the rear guide T permits the lateral swing at the rear of the feeler arm and the swiveled front guide turns in its axis. The feeler thus both swings and slides. As in the aforesaid patent the feeler arm extends through a lateral slot 0 in a controller P which slides in a guide way Q intersecting the guide way I, as shown in Fig. 2. When the feeler slides laterally it carries with it the controller P, and this movement of the controller sets the weft replenishing train in action as set forth in the aforesaid patent.

After the feeler is slid sidewise, the spring L moves the feeler backwardly, and a down wardly extending projection R (shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2) encounters a fixed cam S on the bracket G and restores the feeler arm to its normal position against the wall M.

There is sufficient quantity of weft still left in the shuttle after the feeler slips latath in line with that.

erally to last until after the replenishment of weft occurs so that there is no missing pick in the cloth.

It will be noted from an inspection of Fig. 1, that owing to the location 'of the rear guide M, directly'behind the front guide F, the forward portion of the feeler arm A,

- is normally maintained in such a position that a vertical plane extending lengthwise through its middle is at right angles to the axis on which the lay swings and hence at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the shuttle D, and the bobbin N. Accordingly, when the feeler is restrained fromlateral movement by its tip engaging the body of the weft on the bobbin, the feeler arm A, moves to and fro in a path parallel with the paths of all-of the elements or individual particles of the lay. The rear portion of the feeler arm back of the rear guide M, is inclined laterally with respect to the forward guided portion of said arm. This laterally inclined rear portion has at its rear end teeth which engage the weft and bobbin, and these teeth are offset laterally with respect to the guides for the forward portion of the feeler. Hence, the impact of theforwardly moving bobbin on the feeler tip tends to swing the feeler. This inclined portion of the feeler arm is back of both guides M and F.

I claim:

A feeler mechanism for looms having a side slipping'feeler arm with its rear portion laterally inclined with respect to its forward portion, said rear portion having teeth at its rear end, in combination with guides for the forward portion of the feeler arm at the front and rear thereof, both guides being forward of the laterally inclined rear tip portion and disposed one directly behind the other so that the forward portion of the feeler arm is normally maintained in such a position that a vertical plane extending lengthwise alongitsmiddle is at right angles to the axis on which the lay swings and to the longitudinal axis of the bobbin and shuttle, said rear guide being stationary and laterally elongated to permit the side slip of the feeler arm when the bobbin is bared at the place where it contacts with the feeler teeth.

- In'witness whereof, I have hereunto signed my name.

EDWARD S. STIMPSON. 

